South Texas congressional candidates receive late cash

South Texas congressional candidates continued to see to boost in fundraising during the final weeks before the state’s Tuesday party primaries.

Rep. Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio, who is in a spirited GOP primary race and faces attacks from Internet groups over his online piracy bill, raised nearly $50,000 over the past month alone.

Following the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC which prohibited the government from restricting corporate or union contributions, candidates are stockpiling funds to respond to attacks from political action committees.

“There is a sense on Capitol Hill that members need to be prepared with a lot of money in the bank to contest mudslinging or blitz attacks from super PACs or outside groups,” said Sheila Krumholz, executive director of the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics, a campaign watchdog group.

Democratic Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Austin, running in a newly drawn, minority-opportunity district based in San Antonio raised $33,800 in the closing weeks, according to Federal Election Commission reports.

And state Rep. Pete Gallego, D-Alpine, raised $23,000 over the last month for his primary battle with former U.S. Rep. Ciro Rodriguez, D-San Antonio, who received $2,000 in contributions.

On the eve of the elction, two San Antonio candidates, Smith and Rodriguez, are currently under attack by outside groups.

A billboard with the message, “Don’t Mess with the Internet,” is up near Smith’s office in San Antonio off Interstate Loop 410. It was erected by Fight for the Future, a Boston non-profit group.

The group erected the billboard in response to Smith’s Stop Online Piracy Act, which was shelved in the House following an outpouring of protest from large Internet companies like Google.

Smith, though, said his recent contributions were not out of the ordinary and would be used not to fend off attacks, but to “introducing myself to 230,000 new constituents.”

“That requires both time and funds,” Smith said.

Rodriguez is currently under attack by the League of Conservation Voters, which launched a $200,000 negative TV advertising and direct mail campaign attack the former congressman for his vote against an energy bill supported by Democratic leaders.

But Rodriguez has raised only $2,000 in large contributions this month, largely because he has shut down his fundraising operation to concentrate on retail politics, said D’Mitri Kosub, the campaign manager.

Gallego, however, has amassed thousands in recent weeks in contributions from Democrats like state Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, who is also running for Congress, and Henry Munoz, a major fundraiser, and the National Education Association.

“We are just continuing to raise money to run our campaign,” said manager Lonny Paris, who touted the contribution of the NEA as a ringing endorsement by America’s teachers for Gallego is his run for Congress.

Doggett has received most of his late money from Austin contributors and Washington PACs, according to FEC reports.

The campaign has spent funds on printed materials and TV ads, said spokeswoman Ashley Bliss-Herrera.

Primary opponents Sylvia Romo, the Bexar County tax assessor collector, and Maria Luisa Alvarado, both of San Antonio, reported no large contributions last month.